Anecdotes

This château in Seine-et-Marne doubles as the Élysée on screen.

A château in the Île-de-France region cultivates a resemblance so striking to the Élysée Palace that it has become cinema and television’s favorite double. We take you to meet it in Seine-et-Marne and reveal why—and its history.

When Pierre and Marie Curie Investigated a Medium: The Curious Case of Eusapia Palladino in Paris

Tables that appear to levitate, objects in motion and mysterious "ectoplasms": experiments with medium Eusapia Palladino sparked a lively debate in Belle Époque Paris. An little-known story that drew several eminent scientists, including Pierre and Marie Curie, to take a close interest in phenomena attributed to spiritism.

The Vampire of Montparnasse: the strange affair that sent 19th-century Paris into a panic

In 1849, a string of cemetery desecrations hits several Parisian burial grounds, rattling the guards and feeding the era’s darkest rumors. Known as the "Vampire of Montparnasse," the mysterious perpetrator is eventually unmasked: a look back at a macabre affair that left its mark on 19th‑century Paris.

In Paris, poisonings and black masses rocked the court of the Sun King.

What was the Poison Affair really hiding? In Paris, poisonings, occult practices, and court intrigues draw La Voisin and Louis XIV’s inner circle into a sensational judicial scandal from 1679 to 1682. A look back at a case that ultimately reached the gates of Versailles.

Did you know? This "esprit frappeur" from the Latin Quarter gave the Paris police a real run for their money.

In the summer of 1860, strange projectiles struck a dwelling on Rue des Noyers, near Rue de la Harpe in Paris. Soon the case fed the lead toward a mysterious poltergeist, with even the police dispatched to the scene said to have been targeted.

You pass them every day in Paris without noticing: these little bollards and posts hide a royal history.

In Paris, bollards, posts and wheel guards lining the sidewalks have protected façades, pedestrians and terraces for centuries. From carriages to scooters, a retrospective on the history of these urban sentinels we pass by without really seeing.

At Disneyland Paris, this little-known relic behind Space Mountain harks back to the early days of animation.

At Disneyland Paris, a hidden praxinoscope in Discoveryland, behind Space Mountain, near the Discoveryland Theater, brings Mickey to life in his sorcerer’s apprentice costume. This little-known object reveals one of the park’s most discreet details, straddling optical illusion, the history of animation, and retro-futurist charm.

Disneyland Paris: this long-forgotten Main Street USA show that used to make car fans dream

At Disneyland Paris, Main Street U.S.A. wasn’t just about lining up Victorian façades and ragtime tunes: at the park’s 1992 opening, Main Street Motors was rumored to have offered visitors a genuine American garage setting populated by vintage cars. A little-known, ultra-nostalgic anecdote that continues to brighten the eyes of both car enthusiasts and park fans.

Disneyland Paris: the day Animagique whisked visitors into Disney’s animated worlds

For years, Animagique at Disneyland Paris gave visitors a truly magical feeling: as if stepping over the edge of the screen. Let’s take a look back at the once beloved attraction, its history at Walt Disney Studios Park, its enchanting presentation, and what it has become today.

Disneyland Paris: Whatever happened to the River Rogue Keelboats in Frontierland?

The River Rogue Keelboats, a former attraction in Frontierland at Disneyland Paris, have long been removed from the lineup after several years of operation on the Rivers of the Far West. Here’s a look back at the story of this forgotten ride, blending the charm of the American West!

Did you know? Disneyland once featured an attraction dedicated to Michael Jackson, and another based on a cult classic film.

At Disneyland Paris, the attractions Captain EO and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience left their mark on Discoveryland with two beloved 3D rides. One transported visitors into the futuristic world of Michael Jackson, while the other was inspired by the film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Let’s take a closer look...

Disneyland Paris: this iconic ride that’s now gone took visitors on a journey through time

At Disneyland Paris, between 1992 and 2004, visitors could step into The Visionarium in the Discoveryland area—a captivating 360° cinema attraction that took them on an immersive time-travel adventure alongside robots Timekeeper and Nine-Eyes. Inspired by Jules Verne’s scientific imagination, this beloved ride—now gone— remains one of the most memorable and nostalgic experiences in the park’s history.

Before Spider-Man, an attraction located aboard a space station was literally lighting up Disneyland Paris.

Before Spider-Man and Avengers Campus, another thrill had the walls of Walt Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris quivering: Armageddon – The Special Effects. This attraction immersed guests in the midst of a Hollywood set caught in the chaos of a space disaster… until it vanished in 2019. Let’s take a look back at this now-defunct ride that’s still fondly remembered!

At Disneyland Paris, visitors could enjoy canoeing around Big Thunder Mountain.

Did you know that at Disneyland Paris, visitors used to be able to paddle canoes around Big Thunder Mountain? We're taking you back to the Indian Canoes attraction, a now-defunct experience that once graced the park. Join us as we explore this immersive and hands-on adventure, right in the heart of Frontierland.

At Disneyland Paris, you could take a ride on Space Mountain... at the Walt Disney Studios!

Did you know? When Walt Disney Studios first opened—and for a few years afterward—an adrenaline-pumping attraction allowed visitors to experience a ride on Space Mountain... without actually stepping into the iconic coaster at Disneyland! Called Cyberspace Mountain, this interactive experience let you "imagine" your own virtual journey, enter it into a computer, and then hop into a "car"—a sort of centrifuge—that recreated your entire route in minute detail. Let’s take a closer look!

Did you know? Who was Max Linder, after whom the cinema in the 9th arrondissement is named?

A symbol of auteur cinema in Paris, the Max Linder Panorama perpetuates the memory of its founder, a pioneer of silent film. Behind this legendary theater lies the tragic story of a visionary artist who left his mark on the history of cinema. But who was Max Linder? Let us tell you.

Did you know? What are the 10 most unusual objects found in the Paris metro?

In the twists and turns of the Paris metro, agents discover much more than forgotten umbrellas. Between a funeral urn, a wooden leg and a Scottish bagpipe, these unusual objects bear witness to the mysterious lives of the 200,000 passengers who lose their belongings every year on Paris transport. We reveal the 10 most original objects, consciously (or not) forgotten.

Did you know? The Moulin Rouge once hosted a roller coaster

Did you know? When the Moulin Rouge opened in 1889, a roller coaster was installed in its Montmartre garden. Here's a look back at the history of this little-known attraction in the festive Paris of the Belle Époque!

Did you know? Margaret Thatcher had a little misadventure at La Défense in the 80s.

La Défense, Paris's business district, is home to many companies, schools and a large shopping mall... And some public figures have had misadventures in the heart of the district... Such was the case of Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990, who had a funny adventure in 1989. We tell you all about it!

History: why did Louis XIV move out the Louvre in Paris to go to Versailles?

Everyone knows there was a time the City of Versailles was almost the capital of France, instead of Paris, and we owe so to King Louis XIV who preferred moving out of the Louvre palace to go to his Versailles palace.